There are times when anticipation is its own reward; then there are times when anticipation realized is akin to bliss … well, within reason, and in this case that reason would be Madden NFL 07 for the Xbox 360 from EA Sports.

New features? How about the Lead Blocker addition to the running game? You call a running play, select a blocker to control, throw an impact or chop block and then hit the B button to take control of the running back.

Want more? Jump the Snap has made its way over from the NCAA title, enabling players to anticipate the snap count and get a quick start on the play. The highlight stick allows juke moves, and there is the Madden Gamer Level – a tracking feature that charts everything you do within the game. Live opponent allows players to jump into a franchise mode with a custom roster and attempt to end a run toward the Super Bowl. Downloadable content, mini games, superstar mode, audibles … the game has depth, that’s for certain.

Game modes include the aforementioned Superstar mode, franchise and quick play. Hall of Fame is a library, of sorts, of the players inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame. You can also unlock some of those legendary players and they will become available as free agents. But expect the likes of Y.A. Title and not Joe Montana.

The multiplayer will have a nice challenge mode and full Xbox Live support.

The disk received for this review was a final burn prior to retail burns. There were a few tiny glitches with camera angles shifting, jumping in and out giving the impression of the ball snap (and if you are planning to 'jump the snap' this can be annoying) and a few frame rate stutters.

The interface does allow players to select from a wide range of plays, but you will find yourself scrolling left to right, rather than paging down, and when you try to zoom back to see what patterns are run on offense, the view is limited. The truly wide outs are off to the sides. Yes, you can guess the hot buttons for them, but actually seeing who is where is not always available.

Back is the precision passing and quarterback vision. If you have never seen this before, you are in for a real treat. Want to see what quarterbacks see? This game will allow you to – and most of it is helmets. Wide receiver means fighting to get open and learning to block, while running back is a combination of toting the pigskin and blocking, as well as pass receiving. And you can also take on the role of lineman or a defensive player, though getting to all the positions can be a tedious re-shuffling process.

Because EA has had development time for this 360 title, Madden 07 includes a much more robust selection of features that were previously available in other previous generation consoles. One of those is the Superstar mode, wherein you create a player, a rookie, customize the pedigree and background and then take on the challenges of making it in the NFL. The path includes signing an agent, then hitting the practice fields and improving skills. There are interviews to give, IQ tests to take, and the practice sessions are tantamount to mini games. Each plays a role in where you will be drafted and by whom, so rolling past these is not advised as you will be doing what you can to improve your lot in the NFL.

That said, of course when you load the game, you are asked to pick a favorite team and being drafted does not ensure your favorite franchise will take you. And you will quickly find out that receivers from one team, if you play as a quarterback, will make you look much better than receivers from another. And when in superstar mode, you do not control the game, rather only your player and when he is in the game. And even as a quarterback, you don’t get to call your own plays, but rather run what your coach and offensive coordinator call for. Think it is easy? Not at all. It requires patience. A nice aspect, though, is that the game speeds up when you are not involved in the play. You can also disable the CPU control and control the game until your superstar comes back onto the field.

When it comes to the graphics of the game, there is only one word to describe them – gorgeous. This is truly an amazing visual treat. Yes, there are load times, but the lighting, weather effects, and player animations are all extremely well done. Even care was taken to realize players’ facial features and movements.

The AI is somewhat suspect at times. Open sideline on a kick return is NOT the place to juke out of bounds and end a promising run. And Lovie Smith, coach of Da Bears is not likely to call a backfield pass on third and 19, deep in his own end, while trailing 14-0 in the second quarter. Punters also have a tendency to angle too much for the sidelines. Minor annoyances, all.

Madden 07 on the 360 is a robust football game experience, offering a little something for everyone. This game requires not only reflexive ability but a little cerebral work as well. This year's edition is definitely worth playing.

Gameplay: 8.9
A few frame-rate problems don’t deter this title from being a joy to play and to watch. The players do all look larger than life, but the nuances of the graphics really breathe life into this title and the control scheme – while taking a bit to get used to – works well.

Graphics: 9.1
Simply gorgeous. This is eye candy that is very tasty. The version received suffered from some frame-rate stutters, and not all the faces were spot on with real-life counterparts, but the aesthetics make this one beautiful game.

Sound: 8.8
ESPN Radio initially broadcasts several of the games and does a terrific job – which holds the line for this title where the play-by-play and commentary fits in. The on-field chatter does get repetitious though, but the game also features a decent selection of music, covering many styles.

Difficulty: Medium
The interface has a bit of a learning curve and the addition of the run-block style of gaming is a delight but combined with the QB vision and precision passing, so much of the game is in the hands of the player that the game takes some time to grow accustomed to.

Concept: 8.7
The game has depth, and the additions of the lead blocker, jump the snap and others make this a game that takes the Madden franchise to the next level.

Multiplayer: N/A
There will be challenge modes and full Xbox Live support but at the time of this review, these were not able to be tested.

Overall: 8.8
A truly robust next-gen console experience. The build received for this review had some frame-rate problems and the load times seemed long (perhaps because of the anticipation of playing the game), but this is generally a top-drawer title, with great graphics and sound, and game mechanics that are very close to real life.